Chapter 2 Chapter 1 Three Sisters

What kind of person is Kosuke Kindaichi, I believe many readers will be familiar with him. Kosuke Kindaichi once solved a "secret room murder" case in the old Honjin in the countryside of Okayama County in the 12th year of Showa.Later, like other young people in Japan, he spent the best years of his life in the smoke of war. During the first two years of the war, he was in mainland China, and after that he moved between islands in the South Seas.He happened to be in Wewak, New Guinea, when the war ended. Kito Manta and Kindaichi Kosuke were sent to mainland China at the same time in Showa 10. At the end of the war, they were sent to New Guinea together. In that war, the Japanese army was almost defeated.

Guitou Wantai is four years younger than Kindaichi Kosuke. He and Kindaichi Kosuke are very close, and the two are always inseparable. Guitou Wantai once suffered from malaria. When the old disease relapsed in New Guinea, Kosuke Kindaichi stood by and took care of him. After the eighteenth year of Showa, there was almost no fighting in New Guinea, because the U.S. military did not pay attention to the small group of Japanese troops.Jin Tianyi and the others were behind the enemy and could not get in touch with the friendly forces, so they were in a foreign land, living a life of hopelessness all day long.

At this time, some soldiers fell down one after another due to fever and malnutrition.Seeing that there are fewer and fewer people in the army, the living are tortured by a feeling of despair. Due to the lack of backup, everyone dresses like beggars, so everyone laughs at themselves as Toshihiro Shima. At that time, the soldiers thought that they would die of old age in Guinea like Toshihiro Shima, but they did not expect the war to end suddenly. Kindaichi Kosuke still feels vividly the joy that Onito Kanmanta felt at that time. Guitou shouted at the top of his voice: "Now I can go back alive!" It seemed that there was a kind of joy like finally unloading the burden on the shoulders or being completely relieved.

Although everyone is unwilling to die in the flames of war, no one is more afraid of death than Guitou Wantai. Every time his sadism relapsed, he trembled under the shadow of death like a child afraid of the dark.It is really puzzling that this tall, tall man with a resolute personality would be so afraid of death.And his strong obsession to survive is also surprising. It's just that everyone never expected that such a person who was afraid of death would die on a demobilization ship that would be able to set foot on the mainland in five or six months after there was no danger of war.

Kindaichi Kosuke was entrusted by Onita Tenanta to go to Prison Gate Island to report his death to his family. Before coming here, Kosuke Kindaichi dropped by the boss of Kubo Bank to discuss this matter. He still remembered Kubo Ginzao saying the following: "Kosuke, did you go to Prison Gate Island just to report the death of your comrade-in-arms? If so, it's fine, but if you have other thoughts or purposes in your heart, I advise you not to go. Prison Gate Island is What are you doing there, a dreadful island?" Kubo Ginzo knew Kindaichi Kosuke very well, so he couldn't help showing a worried look on his face.

"Prosperity is like a dream, leaving only summer grass." "Huh? What did you say?" The monk's voice awakened Kindaichi Kosuke who was meditating, and he hurriedly asked. The monk looked at the blue sea where the waves were flying, and said unhurriedly: "I'm talking about that voice!" "Which voice?" Just as Kindaichi Kosuke asked back, there was another explosion-like sound in the air. "Ah! That, that is detonating a mine!" Kindaichi Kosuke stammered. "The mines are far away, and they are destroying military facilities on the nearby small island. Isn't this the portrayal of 'Prosperity Like a Dream'? I really want Basho to see this scene."

The monk looked at the sea with some complacency and sentimentality, and said in a slow tone. Why do you mention bananas in such a strange place? Kosuke Kindaichi looked at the monk with some puzzlement, and the monk turned back to look at him. "It's okay around here. If you go further west, because it's close to Kure City, every island is like a beehive, full of holes. I heard that there is a secret poison gas factory on one island. Now the government is trying to deal with those Poison gas is very troublesome! More than 50 soldiers also came to our island. They dug mountains everywhere, built anti-aircraft surveillance posts, anti-aircraft artillery positions, etc., and they dug potholes everywhere. It’s really shameful. Isn’t there a poem Do you say 'the country is broken and the mountains and rivers are here'? We have become a country that has broken the mountains and rivers. Look, this is Prison Gate Island!"

After such a long time, Kosuke Kindaichi still cannot forget the scene of Prison Gate Island seen from the "White Dragon" at that time. The Seto Inland Sea is half sunny and half cloudy. In the autumn sky, the brilliant sunset is sinking westward from Prison Gate Island, and gloomy dark clouds are drifting in the sky east of Prison Gate Island, which stands majestically on the sea. , the light is dazzling. On Prison Gate Island, which is full of red pine forests, scattered white-walled houses can be seen faintly in the foothills. Under the reflection of the setting sun, these white-walled houses are plated with a strange layer of bright red.

When Kosuke Kindaichi felt that the scene seemed to imply the fate of the entire island, a chill ran down his spine. "The tall building is the Bi Temple, and the huge house below is the Ghost House." The monk pointed to the buildings on the island and said. At this time, the boat just rounded a large cliff, and the monastery and houses disappeared from sight, leaving only a flat fjord, scattered here and there with the huts of fishermen.In the depths of the fjord, there is a small boat sent by a water transport store to pick it up, and it is slowly rowing towards this side. Since there are few flat lands on the nearby islands, it is very difficult for a 35-ton steamship like this to dock at the shore. Therefore, each island has a water transport shop, which is responsible for picking up and connecting the passengers on the ship.

The boat was right next to the liaison boat. "Master is back! Oh, Takekura, too? Mr. Yoshimoto, would you please send these things to Shimura in Shiraishi? And, by the way, say hello to Miyo." The captain of the boat warmly greeted the people on the liaison boat. After the three people boarded the boat, the contact boat turned around and drifted away, while the boat slowly rowed towards the shore. "Master, is this guest going to your place?" asked the captain of the boat curiously. "He is a guest of Guitou Ben's family, and he lives on the island temporarily, you should treat him well!"

The monk exhorted carefully. "That's it! Oh, by the way, Master, what happened to the hanging clock?" "I plan to find some young people to bring the bell back within two or three days, but because the bell is very heavy, I'm afraid I will trouble you again." The monk said very solemnly. "Isn't it easy? But then again, if I knew this, why would I donate in the first place!" The captain muttered slightly complaining. "You can't say that! How did you know that the war was over so soon?" The monk's attitude toward the Cultural Revolution was calm. "Yes, yes. Ah, here we are." When the boat arrived at the trestle bridge, it suddenly rained heavily, and the whole Prison Gate Island was shrouded in rain and fog. "Master, your luck is really good, if you are later, you will be drowned!" The captain spoke sincerely with a humble look on his face. "It looks like it's raining a lot!" The monk nodded and agreed. Once on the trestle bridge, it is an uphill road. "Bamboo possession." "It's Master." "Please go to the Guitou's house first and tell them, I will take the guests there right away." "OK." "By the way, you drop by the village head and Murase's house, and if you want them to go to Guitou's house, just say I ordered them." The monk ordered solemnly. "Okay, I'll go right away." After Zhu Zang saluted respectfully, he left quickly. People who met on this road greeted the monk very respectfully, and then stared at Kosuke Kindaichi with a strange expression. I'm afraid you will be surprised to see how powerful the monks are on such a small island!However, belief is absolutely necessary for these people who seek the sea, so the monks who dominate the belief are of course high in authority. On this kind of island, not only the village head has to bow his head to the monks of the monastery, but even the appointment of the principal of the primary school depends on the monk's face! After leaving the Fisherman's Village, the road suddenly became steep.Kosuke Kanedaichi and the monk climbed up the winding mountain road, and saw a mansion that looked like a castle. I saw a large section of tall and long granite stone wall stretching from the hillside to the valley, which is very spectacular. The lower part of the stone wall is also covered with a hoarding.Inside the wall, there are several separate tile-roofed houses standing staggeredly. This is the most powerful shipowner on Prison Gate Island—the Guitou family. When the monk and Kosuke Kindaichi reached the door of the house, a man in a faded bowler hat and white socks ran hurriedly through the side door. "Master, Zhuzang came here just now..." said the man breathlessly. "Xingan, let's talk inside!" The monk interrupted him casually. He was about fifty-five or sixteen, with iron-rimmed glasses and a goatee.He probably hastily put on some clothes and ran out, so it seemed that he could still see the dress with the family crest in his kimono coat. According to the monk's address just now, Kosuke Kindaichi knew that this person was the doctor on the island—Murase Koan. As soon as the three of them entered the entrance, a beautiful woman knelt down in front of the large screen to greet them immediately. Kosuke Kindaichi never dreamed that there would be such a beautiful woman on such an island, in such an old shipowner's mansion, His eyes widened involuntarily. The woman in front of her looked about twenty-two or three years old, with slightly curly hair draped over her shoulders, wearing a dark brown loose suit, and a red ribbon on the collar of a white shirt, giving off a demure and elegant feeling. "welcome." She put her hands on the ground, and looked up with a charming look in her eyes; coupled with the two big dimples on her cheeks, it gave people a charming feeling. "Sanae, I brought guests here, are the girls at home?" "inside." "That's good! Mr. Kindaichi, please come in. I think the village chief will be here soon, Koan, let's go inside and wait together!" The monk greeted him very naturally, as if he had arrived at his own home. Sanae looked at Kindaichi Kosuke, a little surprised, but as soon as she met Kindaichi Kosuke's sight, her face flushed, and she hurriedly took the kimono jacket from the monk. "Master, you are in a hurry to find me. What's the matter? Who is this?" Koan muttered. "Xingan, didn't Takekura tell you?" The monk looked at Xingan and asked suspiciously. "He didn't say anything, just told me to come quickly." Kouan had an innocent look on his face. "Forget it, let's talk inside! By the way, Sanae, just now I heard from Takezo that Hajime will be back soon?" The monk turned his head and said to Sanae as if remembering something. "thanks to you." Sanae nodded respectfully. "That's really great! It seems that the village head is here." The monk looked out the window and changed the subject. Village head Araki Makihei and doctor Murase Koan are of the same generation.The two standing together is very funny, Xingan is as thin as a crane, but the village chief is short and fat. "Master, is there something urgent?" As soon as the village head arrived, he asked anxiously. "Well, I'm waiting for you, go and sit inside first!" The monk said with a serious expression, and the village head immediately took off his shoes and came in. At this time, heavy rain poured from the sky to the left and right like a waterfall. "What a heavy rain!" said the doctor, twirling his goatee. The rain was as heavy as a water column, and there was a vast expanse of whiteness everywhere. A group of people passed through the wide yard and came to the living room inside. "Sanae, call the girls over here. Everyone please sit down... Oh! It's so dark in here! Koan, turn on the lights!" The monk is like the head of the family, commanding skillfully. As soon as the light was turned on, Kosuke Kanedaichi saw two photos of young people in military uniforms. Besides Manta Kitou who died on the demobilization ship, the other person was probably the young man named Hajime that everyone was talking about just now!He looks a lot like Sanae. "All right." The monk sat down and looked at the village chief and doctor Koan each. "Let me introduce first, this Mr. Kindaichi is Wantai's comrade-in-arms." The doctor responded and looked at Kosuke Kindaichi; the village chief kept his mouth shut and his face expressionless. "Please ask him to bring this letter." The monk took out the letter from his arms and said to the people sitting in the house. After the village head and the doctor took turns reading the letter of introduction, the village head looked at Kindaichi Kosuke with a serious face and asked. "So... how about Mrs. Wan?" "He died, on the demobilization ship." Kindaichi Kosuke thought of his dead comrades, and couldn't help but look sad. Hearing this, the doctor suddenly trembled like a deflated rubber ball; while the village chief moaned in a low voice, his shrunken mouth twisted horribly. Kindaichi Kosuke could never forget the strange reaction of those two people at that time.The eerie silence was almost suffocating. It was still raining like a waterfall. "Sanae, are the guests in there?" A frivolous voice came from behind the latticed door. "I didn't see it!" "It's over there! It must be in that ten-ping room." "Xuezhi, who is the guest?" "Is it a pelican?" "You're so stupid. If it was a pelican, he wouldn't come through the entrance. He would definitely sneak in through the back door." "Who are you looking for?" "Who else? Of course they are looking for me!" "You idiot, you're here to find me!" "Sister, wait a minute, look, can my belt be tied like this?" "Okay, this is already very nice." "But I still don't feel very good, sister Yuedai, please help me re-tie it!" "Hanako, this is already very good! If you continue to linger, the guests will go back. Ah! Xuezhi is so deceitful! She ran away first." Noisy voices and footsteps gradually spread to the living room, and they could vaguely hear their sniggering saying "I don't know this person" and "He looks like a native", which made Kindaichi Kosuke blush stand up. Seeing this, the monk couldn't help laughing and said: "Girls, what are you doing chattering outside? Hurry up and say hello to the guests." "Wow, they heard it!" After a burst of laughter, three girls in kabuki-like long-sleeved kimonos walked in one after the other, with the flower hairpins in their hair swaying slightly. "Mr. Kindaichi, they are Ganmanta's younger sisters—Tsukiyo, Yukie, and Hanako. The oldest Tsukiyo is eighteen years old, and the next ones are one year apart." As soon as the monk introduced, Kosuke Kindaichi couldn't help staring at the three girls in front of him with breathless concentration. These three girls were like three blooming flowers, the compelling beauty couldn't help but send a shiver down the spine of Kindaichi Kosuke, now he knew how difficult the mission he was on was. He recalled that in the sweltering demobilization ship, Onitou Mimanta was struggling to breathe, while trying to speak intermittently: "I don't want to die, I, I can't die either. Because if I don't go back, my three younger sisters will be killed by them... But... But... I can't do it anymore, Kindaichi, please replace me...Replace I'm going to Prison Gate Island...I'll give you a letter of introduction...Kindaichi, I haven't mentioned it to you in the past...Actually, I knew it a long time ago...Who are you...The homicide incident...I was in I read it in the newspaper...please...go to Prison Gate Island...go instead of me...my three younger sisters...my cousin...my cousin..." Unexpectedly, before Wantai Guitou could finish his words, he died in the demobilization cabin full of stench and stuffy like a steamer.